Watching Rachael Ray

We’re starting out in the kitchen today, kids, for a good reason. Rachael says the friend stopping by who loved sour cream and onion chips - and he downed the whole bag, so she’s gonna healthy up the snack: Sour cream and onion dip, next to pita chips or pop chips. So who’s the friend? Dr. Phil of course.

Dr. Phil goes directly to the whole bag of chips, and Rachael admits that she helped. It’s all in good fun too. They talk about girl math - bag of chips and a few carrots, it works. He laughs and says the food backstage was really good, he had meatball sandwhichs. Rachael points out they healthy’d those up too, he shot back “I know, that’s why I had five!” Guy math works too. Heh.

They talk about the epidemic of obesity in the country, people aren’t moving around or working out. You can’t diet your way to weight loss - it has to be a lifesyle change. You can’t be overweight if you don’t have the lifestyle to support it. He’s not looking for skinny minis, just a healthy lifestyle. He’s running the Ultimate Weight Loss Challenge on his show in hopes of showing people that it can be done. It’s all about shaking them up and breaking their routine to make it happen. They talk some with the contestants of the challenge that are in the audience. The key is to lose it right, one time and be done with it. Don’t diet, change your lifestyle.

Phil also plugs his new book, Real Life - Preparing for the 7 most challenging days in your life. You can read an excerpt here, and hit up the giveaway button over there for the chance to win a copy.

OH, and the divorce thing? Not happening. Dr. Phil says that it is astounding to him that they obsess over it, and it’s the core definition of their family, he’s never going to leave his wife. Rachael points out she gets the tabloid divorce rumors too, and Dr. Phil jokes that he hates to say it, but it’s comforting when they are writing about Rachael, as it gives him the week off. Rachael grins and shoots right back “I feel the same way, brother!” Course now, they’re gonna get the split cover - getting a group rate on divorce!

They talk a little bit about The Doctors, and how it is for him to watch his son, and how proud he is of the show. They deal with a lot of issues on the show, and he thinks it’s fantastic. Then there’s a very special guest - Robin McGraw, Dr. Phil’s wife comes out to introduce them to Maggie, their rescue dog, and she’s clearly loved by the family. It’s the perfect opportunity to plug Rachael’s new dog food, of course. They talk about Nutrish, and they bring it out and Maggie gets a little snack and she eats it on the set. 100% of the proceeds of the selling of Nutrish goes directly to animal rescue organizations from coast to coast. (hit up the giveaway for a sample of Nutrish too!). Backstage Dr. Phil points out that Maggie is a picky eater, and he’s shocked she loved the dog food - he might have to try it himself. Ha!

It’s time for the first Human Lab of the season! This time, it’s baby safety devices! One mother isn’t sleeping because her son is used to being cradled, so when he wakes up, he won’t go back to sleep without it. Another mother of boys says the hospital isn’t a strange place for her - because they tumble and run and walk and toddle.. al over. Another wants to know how to go to a public restroom, and deal with the situation with a baby while she’s out.

One tests the Zaky, meant to simulate a mother’s touch, another the Thudguard, a helmet for toddlers learning to walk on hard surfaces, and the third tests the Baby Keeper, that hangs the kid on the bathroom door while you pee. Haha!

The Zaky didn’t work the first night, the second night helped, and by the third night they slept all night long. Please note it’s not suggested for constant use under 6mths of age - if you use it, take it out of the crib once the baby is asleep. Susie says the Thudguard was conceptually a good product - but had issues, he wouldn’t keep it on, he got too hot, and well, it’s silly looking, so she won’t use it on a daily basis. Even the doc says bottom line - you can’t bubble wrap your kid. The baby Keeper wasn’t quite as successful, as it was complicated to get on, but as she got arond to using it, it’s a great idea, but it’s not quite right for her since she didn’t start while her kiddo was younger. Check online for the top 14 baby safety tips from Dr. Ari Brown.

So hey, what’s for dinner? Plum Good Pork Chops, and Jalapeno Rice.